An Anne Perry Christmas: A Christmas Journey / A Christmas Visitor

by Anne Perry

A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY
“One of the best books to brighten the joyous season.”
–USA Today

“This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety. . . . [A] powerful message of responsibility and redemption.”
–The Wall Street Journal

In the Berkshire countryside, family and guests have gathered for a delicious weekend fête surrounded by roaring fires and candlelight. It’s scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one–not even that clever budding sleuth Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould–anticipates the tragedy that is to darken this holiday house party.


At the Dreghorn family reunion, the tranquility of a snowbound English estate is shattered by what an apparently accidental death. The victim’s distraught wife summons her godfather, the distinguished mathematician and inventor Henry Rathbone, to the scene. And questions about the tragic event soon turn into whispers of murder.

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Holiday, Historical Mystery, Book Club

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2004

About the author

Anne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.

Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".

Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.

Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting cozy Christmas mysteries when I opened this collection of 2 novellas from Anne Perry. What I got flat, uninspired crime scene investigations, devoid of any mystery and with barely a mention of Christmas make this a flop of a holiday read. Anne Perry has quite an interesting back story. Perhaps some of her other works are more worth while. This is definitely one to skip!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are Christmas stories like Die Hard is a Christmas movie. They are set at Christmas time. There are descriptions of Christmas decorations and Christmas food. And that is all the Christmas you’re going to get.
Both stories are fine as interludes. If you’re looking for riveting Christmas stories, I can suggest better.
The first story is simply following two women as they travel to Scotland and back to London via train, carriage, boat and horseback. It is not a pleasant travel, but one of a simple mission…tell a woman her daughter has died and escort her back to the daughter’s grave. Since it takes place in England, in December, in the mid 1800’s it is not an easy journey for either of these monied women.
The second story, also set in the 1800’s, is about a family that has been spread across the globe coming back together at Christmas, each one discovering on their arrival that the oldest brother died only the week before. The crux of this story is there is a man in the village who says this brother robbed him of his inheritance and they unravel why this man believes this.
This second story is more romanticized, mostly (I think) as a way to get to know the multiple characters. There are 4 brothers, 2 sister-in-laws, 1 son and a friend in the house alone.
If you’re looking for a quick read and enjoy historical fiction set in 1800’s rural England, you’ll probably enjoy these well enough. If you’re looking for a story that will grip you, surprise you or take you for a ride, you will be disappointed.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dwells on sky, scriptures, world icons.
1 After suicide, Vespasia roughs it with Isobel of sharp criticism to Scotland wilds with letter from Gwen to mum, deduces more murder. V pleases godlike Omegus. Typo 13.1 .might ^ . Vespasia might
2 Reminiscent Henry enjoys Lakes to clear, find killer of, pal Judah.

[Jpedgehill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Breathlessly he pondered the review that would have grave consequences for himself, his family, and his social condition. How could he ever summarize the non mysterious mysteries that had little or nothing to do with Christmas but a thick gauze of emotional epoxy?

Then he realized, it wasn't that important. He was only writing a review of a book so filled with rather undramatic melodrama as to make it quite skippable.

To be fair though, this reader has a hard time enjoying any modern writer who attempts to mimic the style of writing in which the plot is set. Putting on the stilted writing style of the mediocre to poor writers of a bygone age in order to hide a poor story and lack of insight is slightly insulting to one's readers.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Perry has a talent for creating multilayered stories that reveal human nature in unanticipated ways. The 2nd story, A Christmas Visitor, centers on the death of Judah Dreghorn - elder brother, father, husband, friend, and judge. His sudden death shortly after the release of a man he sent to jail, has the family crying foul play, especially since Judah's integrity is being questioned. In their search for the truth and their desire to clear Judah's name, the family looks back at the original case to provide answers. This search for truth tests their beliefs in themselves and in Judah beyond anything they expected.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to both of these. I loved the Victorian time period,the fact that they were clean although not necessarily Christian. There were definite Biblical/moral undertones woven in about true forgiveness,being honest no matter what, and doing right now matter the cost. They were enjoyable books for around the holidays.

[Leona Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good read by Anne Perry

Anne Perry has another masterpiece .She has 3 characters that I lher christmas books are my favorites .These characters are so honable and good .wish we had some men and women today with this morale fiber ,especially in Congress,also it ended well I like that. read it you won’t be dissapointed.

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, in her much younger self in the mid-19th Century accompanies a friend on a mission of expiation after she makes a casually cruel remark at a country house party that causes another of the guests to commit suicide. I found this plot to be rather over-wrought, but given the author’s strange religious beliefs, not unexpected.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a couple of Anne Perry’s books, and thought that I would give her Christmas books a try, since I love to do seasonal reads at this time of year. I’m glad that I started with a book from the library. I really was not impressed with these stories at all.

[Madmoizelle Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to feel the Christmas magic, if you want to travel to the Victorian era, read this this book, by the chimney, with a good cup of tea and some scones.
Pure joy, with a nice moral, like a fairytale.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contained the first two novels in Anne Perry's Christmas Story series. The stories are set in England in the mid-nineteenth century and both stories are centered around a mystery. I enjoyed them and look forward to reading more books in this series.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed. There was nothing about Christmas or much of a mystery. A bunch of dry uninteresting people at a winter house party.
I may t try to read another of her stories as people seem to like them.

[Library K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trudged through the first story - A Christmas Journey - barely and didn't want to work that hard for the next one. Was looking for a lighthearted Christmas story, this is not it. If you want a treatise on human behavior then this might be for you.

[Patricia Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas is a special time for some people but not for me. I have enjoyed reading Christmas in the

[Lyndsey Nicole Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the first story more.

[LisaY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a lite read for Christmas and this was more about covering up a person's death. It was kind of a downer for me so I am not going to read the 2nd part of the book. On to something else.

[Elizabeth C S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good writer but missing the Christmas theme I am craving during December reads! Don’t want to read about suicide and death. I think titles a bit misleading.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost interest half way through the second story.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new-to-me Christmas series.

[ejs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed these mini mystery novels set in Victorian England

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this novella in an afternoon. A very good Christmas mystery, well not so much Christmas, but the time period is Christmas. Mostly a good mystery.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Anne Perry, and her Christmas mysteries are a good reading during the holiday season.

[Christine F · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you want to read a murder mystery during the Holiday Season. A great read

[Eva Langton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shamelessly read this in a slew of other cozy mysteries this Christmas. It’s nothing spectacular, but cozy it is!

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read these two Christmas tales in separate volumes

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her other mysteries. This is a novella. Maybe that's it. Maybe it was because I couldn't get into the characters. I wasn't really attracted to anyone.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd epic poem/comedy of manners, paired with a better than expected mystery. (EPUB)

[Margaret Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed A Christmas Journey with all the twists and turns throughout the story. Disappointed with A Christmas Visitor that had no hook in the beginning to arrest your attention.

[Karen Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! If you are a fan of Anne Perry, its a wonderful set of stories.

[Lynda Choquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas mysteries are always fun. Both books were a good read.